Master Gardeners gardening and blogging in the mountains of Colorado. For more information contact your local extension office, wwwhttp://extension.colostate.edu/staff-directory.

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Foothills Drought Conditions, Fire Mitigation and Plant Materials

By Jan Boone

Picture
courtesy of Colorado State Forest Service

We all have watched with dread the fires that have ravaged
both Northern and Southern California in the past months.As someone with family members and friends impacted
by several of these fires in my home state, I can’t help but think it’s time to
re-examine the more serious aspects of safety in foothills living and our gardens,
for the off chance our turn will be next.

According to the Colorado Climate Center, as of January
2018, 99% of our state’s population is being impacted by some degree of
drought. The Foothills and surrounding
Metro area is still classified as Moderate, but as we all know weather patterns
can impact us very quickly. This includes the scary fact our snowpack is
currently between 50-70% of average.Yes, our typical snowiest months are March and April, so as I write, we
are halfway through March and we’ve only received half our normal snowfall.Follow their website at (www.climate.colostate.edu).

Since our surrounding environment is heavily forested
with peaks and canyons and our climate is arid, we’re at a high risk for wildland
fire destructionThe potential of a
wildland fire impacts most every aspect of our daily living.Here’s a challenge: when was the last time
you considered fire mitigation around your house and property?? Consider places where wildlands meet more
urban-based building structures and how they can be defended against fire.

The Colorado State Forest Service (www.csfa.colostate.edu: https://static.colostate.edu/client-files/csfs/pdfs/FIRE2012_1_DspaceQuickGuide.pdf) has great guidelines on recognizing
the Home Ignition Zones that starts with two basic principles: Structure
Ignitability (your house and surrounding facilities) and Defensible space (the
area around your home).While it’s true your
homeowner’s insurance may help point out potential hazards they see on and
around your immediate house structure, there are still greenhouses, storage
sheds, barns, etc. to also consider. Have you thought of little things that may
prove impactful? Do you allow pine needles to collect under any raised wooden
decks, or against your siding? What about your gutters?Do you store items in potentially flammable containers
up against the house? What about the
woodpecker holes in siding you say you’ll get to later or the big dead pine
bough that overhangs the roof? These all may impact your dwelling in case of a
wildland fire.

Let’s also focus on the garden and space around your
home. Do you worry about the dried cheat grass in a space next door? How about
the small attractive pine you planted next to your house a few years ago?The dried needles it may drop are trouble!!
All of these circumstances are easy targets with potentially sad outcomes,
especially in wind driven ground fires where sparks can ignite your plantings
and house.Do you watch for ladder fuels
(i.e. dead pine boughs that start on shrubs, especially firs, at ground level
and may rise 2-3 ft to current growth in a young trees.These fuels enable sparks to quickly move
vertically, easily turning a ground or grass fire into a crown fire at treetop
level .

Now turn your attention specifically to garden plants and
landscaping.(CSU fact sheet #6.305on
Firewise Plant Materials: extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/firewise-plant-materials-6-305)
We are often asked during the summer months “What plants won’t attract deer or
elk”??We can turn that question around
for the purpose of this blog article and ask “What plants are more fire
resistant”??If we think of your home’s
exterior space in Zones, there are 3 Defensible Space Zones: Zone 1 is 0-15
feet from your structure, Zone 2 is 30-100 feet from your structure. And Zone 3 100 feet and beyond. Here’s some added
information to help.

Picture courtesy of Colorado State Forest Service

If you you’re collecting water in Zone 1, as in a rain
barrel (CSU Fact Sheet # 6.707: http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/rainwater-collection-colorado-6-707/) or maybe a water feature with a pool, you may want to
consider keeping a good hose nearby, especially to help spray water on the base of
the house or to water plants near the house.
A good friend in Napa did this using water from a swimming pool to help
save a wood fence! However, if you are
asked to evacuate, do so immediately without taking time to soak anything. Look for low
growing ground covers and some wildflowers for this specific zone.

Zone 2 and 3 plantings may be subject to loss or damage
from a wildland fire despite best efforts, but you can help protect the Zone 2
garden occupants by following these guidelines found in above referenced Fact
Sheet on Firewise Plants.Look for
plants with these specific characteristics: open branches and sparse
vegetation, low sap or resin contents and good moisture content. While eliminating
dead or dying branches or dried diseased leaves is work, the payback is a
healthier garden as well as less available volatile materials in case of
fire.Zone 3 is apt to be native growth,
including tall pines.This zone may be a
priority of first responders in case of a wildland fire.Consider and ask about plants or trees that
may regenerate themselves after a fire.

Here are some good low water, native wildflowers and
plants that may be suitable while also creating a reduced water need in a fire wise garden. These are also beneficial to
pollinators.A fact sheet that can help
with this is Native Herbaceous Perennials for Colorado: http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/native-herbaceous-perennials-for-colorado-landscapes-7-242/.Also, low-water native
plants for pollinators:
extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/native/FrontRange.pdf.In early growing season at our altitude, look for Nodding
onion, Firecracker or Blue Mist Penstemon and Pasque flower to name a few. Mid to late
season you can also include Milkweed, Harebells, Blanket flower (Gaillardia),
Beebalm, Black-eyed Susan, native Yarrow, Aster, Oriental Poppy, even Hens and
Chicks. Specific shrubs varieties may
also include Rabbitbrush, Chokecherry, Golden Currant and Woods Rose,
Cotoneaster, Serviceberry, Aspen. some maples and Mountain Ash.

Native Yarrow

The Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department is hoping to hire
a wildland fire educator in the coming months so watch for further information
we can share should this hiring occur.In the meantime, prepare as best you can with some of the ideas
mentioned in this article.Here’s wishing
everyone a peaceful and safe season in our gardens and surrounding communities these
coming months.To those who may be
called upon to help protect us in case of emergencies, we honor your commitment
and thank you.